Game of the Year 2025 Is Going to Be Pure Chaos

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Some games seem destined for Game of the Year nominations, while others rarely get a look-in. But this year’s nominees are exceptionally strong – it’s a truly remarkable lineup, almost as impressive as what we saw in 2023. Nobody could have predicted such a fantastic year for games. Let’s break down each game’s chances as awards season begins.

Let me be clear: this isn’t related to our own Game of the Year awards, and it doesn’t suggest which games might win those. Every game is still in contention. We’re simply talking about the biggest games of the year and how likely they are to win awards overall. That being said, many people believe Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is almost guaranteed to win at The Game Awards, at the very least.

It’s no surprise this game was so well-received. Critics consistently ranked it as the best new game for months – and updated versions for the Switch 2 don’t factor into that. Many players deeply connect with its story and characters. It’s a remarkable achievement, especially considering it came from a development team that chose to become independent from a major publisher to follow their own creative ideas.

People enjoyed the game’s beautiful, old-fashioned setting and impressive visuals. The combat was challenging for some, though it was possible to become overpowered and create incredibly strong character builds later on. Many felt it was the modern Final Fantasy game they had been waiting for. Personally, I thought it raised the standard for games priced at $50, and sent a clear message to developers releasing unfinished or buggy games at the higher $70 price point.

Honestly, it wasn’t a shock at all when this game absolutely crushed the Golden Joystick Awards. It won for everything – the story, how it looked, the music, even the acting! They even named the studio the best of the year, and then capped it all off with the big one: Ultimate Game of the Year. Now, with a record-breaking 12 nominations at The Game Awards, everyone’s predicting it’s going to do a total Return of the King sweep and win everything this season. I’m definitely rooting for it!

Right now, the main game that feels like a real competitor is Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. The first Death Stranding received award nominations thanks to its unique gameplay, strange story, and great acting, but it didn’t win many awards. Maybe its unusual design was a turn-off for some, or it was simply unlucky to be released in the same year as the hugely popular Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Whatever the reason, it was an unexpected contender.

The sequel, however, has been a huge success. It’s one of the best new games released this year, and ranks second among games exclusive to its platform. It set a new benchmark for graphics with its beautiful environments and incredibly detailed characters. The story was a pleasant surprise too – beyond the expected twists, it delivered some truly touching moments and meaningfully built upon the character of Sam.

Beyond all of that, the gameplay itself is incredibly versatile, making the game much more fun to play. Ultimately, Death Stranding 2 is a fantastic and complete game, and it’s not just benefiting from Hideo Kojima’s reputation. It’s no surprise it’s tied for second place in nominations at The Game Awards – we’ll discuss that other game shortly.

Let’s talk about some fantastic games that deserve recognition but probably won’t win Game of the Year: Blue Prince, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Split Fiction. It’s a shame, because each one excels in its own way – Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 boasts incredible world design and immersion, while Split Fiction offers a wide variety of experiences in its cooperative gameplay. Blue Prince is a truly original puzzle game with mysteries that will keep players engaged for hundreds of hours. If these games had come out last year, they might have had a chance at winning, but 2025 is a very competitive year.

It’s possible the same could be said for Ghost of Yōtei. I absolutely loved Ghost of Tsushima, despite its imperfections, so my expectations for Yōtei were incredibly high even before the game was announced. Surprisingly, it exceeded almost all of them. Everything – the combat, exploration, graphics, presentation, and story – felt incredibly well-done and personal. While it’s likely to win many awards for its music, acting, and visuals, it might not be a contender for Game of the Year.

The wait for Hollow Knight: Silksong felt like forever, filled with jokes and constant questions about its release. When it finally arrived, it proved to be one of the best side-scrolling action-adventure games ever created – so popular, in fact, that it nearly broke the internet! Most players were captivated by the world of Pharloom, its hidden secrets, and challenging bosses. However, a small number didn’t connect with the game’s difficulty or overall experience, which is unfortunate. While overcoming those challenges made winning feel incredibly rewarding for many, those frustrating moments ultimately detracted from the game for some players.

Games like Donkey Kong Bananza are always a bit of a wildcard. While it’s been a while since an Xbox game won the top prize at The Game Awards (since 2010, actually), it’s equally surprising that a Nintendo exclusive hasn’t won since 2017, when Breath of the Wild was a huge hit. Donkey Kong Bananza is a really fun 3D platformer, but it faces tough competition, so it might not win the overall prize. Still, it’s almost certain to win all the awards specifically for Nintendo games, even with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on the horizon.

I have to say, Hades 2 really surprised me! It launched after everyone was still waiting for Silksong, and it’s just a fantastic improvement on the first Hades. While the ending didn’t quite hit the mark for me, it’s still one of the very best roguelikes out there. I don’t know if it’ll become the absolute best game ever, even with how amazing the combat, characters, and overall presentation are, but honestly, it’s become so good that it makes me really happy to see.

Some games might not win a huge number of awards, even if they’re memorable. For example, Dispatch has strong performances and writing and could pick up a few accolades, but it probably won’t be a major awards contender, which is unfortunate given how good it is. Similarly, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a remarkably faithful remake, but it might only win awards specifically for being a remake, possibly because it doesn’t drastically innovate or faces a lot of competition.

Just like with Silent Hill f, though it falls into the horror genre, I don’t anticipate it gaining widespread popularity beyond its striking art style and narrative. Similarly, despite enjoying Absolum’s blend of rogue-lite gameplay, action-packed combat, and beautiful 2D graphics, it probably won’t even stand out in the indie game scene.

Please be aware that the opinions shared in this article are the author’s own and don’t reflect the official stance of GamingBolt.

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2025-11-27 21:13